‘We compared HP brown sauce to two supermarket versions – clear winner costs just 99p’

Two YouTubers who put four different brown sauces to the test have revealed their favourite – and the outcome might just surprise you. On their YouTube channel, Mark and Beck Everyday Eats, the married duo sampled each variety alongside a full English breakfast and a sausage sandwich.

To begin, the pair tried HP’s fruity brown sauce, billed on the bottle as a “fruity, tangy sauce with a blend of tomatoes, spices and vinegar,” available in most supermarkets for approximately £3.

Diving into the fruity option, Mark described it as “quite mild” and reminiscent of brown sauce blended with ketchup, which he deemed “pleasant”.

Offering her assessment, Beck said it was “very fruity” and “quite tangy”, awarding it a “nine out of ten”.

For their second tasting, they moved onto HP’s original brown sauce, which promises “a rich, tangy sauce with a unique blend of spices and tamarind,” according to the label, retailing at roughly £2.50.

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When comparing the original against the fruity alternative, the duo spotted a “massive difference” between them, with Beck remarking on its “bold flavour”.

“I’m very familiar with that,” Beck told viewers. “It’s very tangy, bold and [in your face]. It’s not hiding at all.”

Beck continued, noting she favoured the original on her sandwich, though suggested the fruity version would complement meat nicely. Delivering their score, they settled on “eight and a half out of 10”.

Next up was Tesco’s own-brand brown sauce, priced at £1.15, described as a “classic brown sauce with a sweet and tangy flavour”.

Mark noted it was “slightly less tangy than the HP”, while his wife chipped in: “It’s tangy and sweet. I don’t mind that at all.”

However, with a score of seven and a half out of 10, it ranked as their least favourite of the four.

The couple reserved their highest praise for the cheapest option — Aldi’s Bramwell’s sauce — billed as a “bold and tangy brown sauce with a full-bodied flavour”.

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“This one is closer to the HP,” Mark said. “It’s got a much bolder taste and a much stronger taste.

“Yeah that’s proper sharp isn’t it?,” Beck agreed, suggesting it should include “bold and tangy” in the description.

Taking into account its wallet-friendly price tag of just 99p, the pair concluded that Aldi delivered the best combination of value and flavour. “It’s tangier than the HP I’d say, I’d definitely buy that one again,” Mark added.

“They’ve hit the spot with that,” Beck chimed in.

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Across recent UK surveys, ketchup is typically ranked number one overall, with mayonnaise often second, while brown sauce usually places third among mainstream table sauces.

While blind taste tests and consumer polls often highlight strong competition from cheaper supermarket own-labels and niche alternatives, HP remains the most recognised brown sauce in the UK.